National secretary of the public service union Melissa Donnelly has been appointed secretary-elect of Australia’s peak body for trade unions. The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) announced the appointment after a Monday meeting. Outgoing secretary Sally McManus said Donnelly had the “overwhelming support” of ACTU’s member unions. “The average union member is a 44-year-old working mother, and so is Melissa. She’s a year younger than I was when I took up the office and represents generational change,” she said.